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This week, I'll be breaking from my usual schedule of depth chart updates, etc. to put out a four-day "DRAFT WEEK" series leading up to a rare "sporting event" that is not simulated, generic or replayed in the 2020 NFL draft. As usual, it's all I will be thinking about this week, anyway. The content schedule from me will be as follows:
Monday: Top 10 Running Backs
Tuesday: Top 10 Wide Receivers
Wednesday: Final First Round Mock Draft (for Huddle Report Competition)
Thursday: Final Predictions for ex-Longhorns
10. Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
Height: 5’8 7/8”
Weight: 207 lbs
Hands: 8 5/8”
Arm: 31 1/4”
40 yard dash: 4.57
72nd Percentile SPARQ athlete
35% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.9 ****
NFL Comparison: Devin Singletary
Pros
– balance through contact
– lateral agility
– excellent footwork
– masterful stop/start
– finishes runs hard
– soft hands
– good ball security
Cons
– lacks elite straight line speed
– indecisive, dances too much
– impatient for blocks to form
– decrease in production in 2019 after stellar 2018
– has had his wheels run off dating back to high school
– unimpressive Senior Bowl week
– yo-yo weight loss/gain during draft process
9. Zach Moss, Utah
Height: 5'9 3/8"
Weight: 223
Hands: 9 1/4"
Arm: 31 1/4"
40 yard dash: 4.65
28th percentile SPARQ athlete
28% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.6 ***
NFL Comparison: Benny Snell
Pros
- rock-solid college production
- thick frame with workhorse size
- extremely elusive
- over 1000 yards last three seasons
- 2nd most YAC in FBS (PFF)
- 3rd most missed tackles forced (PFF)
Cons
- slower than you'd like
- not an explosive athlete
- runs with a plodding style
- lack of elite physical traits outside of prototypical size
8. Joshua Kelley, UCLA
Height: 5’10 5/8”
Weight: 212 lbs
Hands: 9 5/8”
Arm: 31 5/8”
40 yard dash: 4.49
47th percentile SPARQ athlete
27% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.2 **
NFL Comparison: Damien Harris, Felix Jones
Pros
– aggressive downhill runner
– good vision and instincts
– balance after/through contact
– soft hands as a receiver
– quick first step
– RosterWatch 2020 All-Senior Bowl team
– impeccable character
Cons
– lacks explosion
– absorbs a lot of contact
– passive blocker
– evidence of trouble creating on his own
7. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
Height: 5’9 5/8”
Weight: 214 lbs
Hands: 8 7/8”
Arm: 30 7/8”
40 yard dash: 4.51
35th percentile SPARQ athlete
38% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.8 ****
NFL Comparison: Spencer Ware
Pros
– powerful one cut and up runner
– prototypical frame
– runs through contact
– wait for blocks
– fast in the open field
– good blocker
– good hands as a receiver during limited Senior Bowl work
– uber-productive within context of his offense
– sneaky big-play potential; had 13 plays of 50-plus yards in career
Cons
– lacks explosion
– not evasive behind LOS
– production declined from junior senior season
– 35th percentile SPARQ athlete
6. Cam Akers, Florida State
Height: 5’10 3/8″
Weight: 217
Hand: 9″
Arm: 30 5/8″
40-time: 4.47
54th percentile SPARQ athlete
31% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6..1 *****
NFL Comparison: Jay Ajayi, Joseph Addai
Pros
– overcame horrible blocking and a bad offensive cast to be very productive
– can clearly create on his own
– good functional agility
– instinctive navigation through line of scrimmage
– shed-ability through hips on inside runs
- young (will not turn 21 until late June 2020)
– good straight-line speed
– ex-QB, smart player you want to get the ball to- excellent size and frame
– solid in pass pro, seems to understand protections
Cons
– drops too many passes
– questionable open-field vision
– runs to contact at second-level
– average overall athleticism
– bounces out to the edges too often
– 6 fumbles over final two seasons
5. Antonio Gibson, Memphis
Height: 6’0 3/8”
Weight: 228 lbs
Hands: 8 5/8”
Arm: 31 1/8”
40 yard dash: 4.39
84th percentile SPARQ athlete (among WIDE RECEIVERS!)
14% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.2 **
NFL Comparison: Tony Pollard, Joe Mixon
Pros
– capable pass catcher
– runs through contact
– rare size/speed combo
– extremely agile
– good vision
– impressive body control
– unbelievable short-area vision and burst
Cons
– pass protection
– small hands/body catcher
– raw prospect
– comes in without concrete position on offense
– startlingly little production in college
4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Height: 5’ 7 1/4”
Weight: 207 lbs
Hands: 9 5/8”
Arm: 29”
40 yard dash: 4.6
69th percentile SPARQ athlete
24% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.7 ***
NFL Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice
Pros
- shows patience waiting for blocks
- agility in tight spaces
- protects the ball
- great vision
- big, soft hands
- excellent route runner
- uses low center of gravity to finish runs with power
- Joe Burrow calls him the best football player he's ever been around (at Ohio State or LSU)
Cons
- lacks top end speed
- questionable pass protection
- small catch radius
- small in general
3. D'Andre Swift, Georgia
Height: 5’8 1/4”
Weight: 212 lbs
Hands: 9”
Arm: 29 7/8”
40 yard dash: 4.48
60th percentile SPARQ athlete
23% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6.0 ****
NFL Comparison: Alvin Kamara, Duke Johnson
Pros
– elite footwork
– low center of gravity
– high football IQ
– quick change of direction
– evasive
– accelerates quickly
– reliable pass catcher
Cons
– ball security issues
– punishing running style
– doesn’t always drive his legs through tackles
– never handled a full load
2. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
Height: 5’9 1/2″
Weight: 209 (reportedly played at 216 during 2019 season)
Hand: 9 1/2″
Arm: 29 3/4″
No combine SPARQ data
28% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6.0 ****
NFL Comparison: Larry Johnson, Devonta Freeman
Pros
– thick, compact body with true breakaway ability
– verified elite athlete despite no combine/pro day metrics (The Opening 2016, 700-pound squat, etc.)
– elite vision and instincts at all levels of the field
– natural hands-catcher
– determined runner who always falls forward
– elusive via explosive athleticism and great first-gear acceleration
– uber-productive at high-profile Ohio State
– broke out with 1400 rushing yards as a true freshman among good RB room
– durable, did not miss games despite heavy volume
Cons
– can get caught from behind on long runs
– had a down year in 2018
– don’t have any combine or pro day measurables
– on the slightly light side for a prototypical workhorse archetype
– despite great hands, was not used as often as other in receiving game
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Height: 5’ 10 1/4”
Weight: 226 lbs
Hands: 9 1/2”
Arm: 31 1/8”
40 yard dash: 4.39
90th percentile SPARQ athlete
37% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.8 ****
NFL Comparison: Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, Cadillac Williams
Pros
– the complete package
– accelerates to top speed quickly
– powerful downhill runner
– great vision
– historically prolific college career
– hard to bring down
– elite instincts
– 90th percentile SPARQ athlete
Cons
– ball security (18 fumbles)
– can work on pass protection
– mileage on tires (was run into the ground in college)
Just Missed: AJ Dillon, Boston College; Anthony McFarland, Maryland; Darrynton Evans, App State; James Robinson, Illinois State; JaMycal Hasty, Baylor; Lamical Perine, Florida.
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
This week, I'll be breaking from my usual schedule of depth chart updates, etc. to put out a four-day "DRAFT WEEK" series leading up to a rare "sporting event" that is not simulated, generic or replayed in the 2020 NFL draft. As usual, it's all I will be thinking about this week, anyway. The content schedule from me will be as follows:
Monday: Top 10 Running Backs
Tuesday: Top 10 Wide Receivers
Wednesday: Final First Round Mock Draft (for Huddle Report Competition)
Thursday: Final Predictions for ex-Longhorns
* * *
Alex Dunlap's Top 10 Running Backs of the 2020 NFL Draft Class
10. Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
Height: 5’8 7/8”
Weight: 207 lbs
Hands: 8 5/8”
Arm: 31 1/4”
40 yard dash: 4.57
72nd Percentile SPARQ athlete
35% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.9 ****
NFL Comparison: Devin Singletary
Pros
– balance through contact
– lateral agility
– excellent footwork
– masterful stop/start
– finishes runs hard
– soft hands
– good ball security
Cons
– lacks elite straight line speed
– indecisive, dances too much
– impatient for blocks to form
– decrease in production in 2019 after stellar 2018
– has had his wheels run off dating back to high school
– unimpressive Senior Bowl week
– yo-yo weight loss/gain during draft process
9. Zach Moss, Utah
Height: 5'9 3/8"
Weight: 223
Hands: 9 1/4"
Arm: 31 1/4"
40 yard dash: 4.65
28th percentile SPARQ athlete
28% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.6 ***
NFL Comparison: Benny Snell
Pros
- rock-solid college production
- thick frame with workhorse size
- extremely elusive
- over 1000 yards last three seasons
- 2nd most YAC in FBS (PFF)
- 3rd most missed tackles forced (PFF)
Cons
- slower than you'd like
- not an explosive athlete
- runs with a plodding style
- lack of elite physical traits outside of prototypical size
8. Joshua Kelley, UCLA
Height: 5’10 5/8”
Weight: 212 lbs
Hands: 9 5/8”
Arm: 31 5/8”
40 yard dash: 4.49
47th percentile SPARQ athlete
27% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.2 **
NFL Comparison: Damien Harris, Felix Jones
Pros
– aggressive downhill runner
– good vision and instincts
– balance after/through contact
– soft hands as a receiver
– quick first step
– RosterWatch 2020 All-Senior Bowl team
– impeccable character
Cons
– lacks explosion
– absorbs a lot of contact
– passive blocker
– evidence of trouble creating on his own
7. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
Height: 5’9 5/8”
Weight: 214 lbs
Hands: 8 7/8”
Arm: 30 7/8”
40 yard dash: 4.51
35th percentile SPARQ athlete
38% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.8 ****
NFL Comparison: Spencer Ware
Pros
– powerful one cut and up runner
– prototypical frame
– runs through contact
– wait for blocks
– fast in the open field
– good blocker
– good hands as a receiver during limited Senior Bowl work
– uber-productive within context of his offense
– sneaky big-play potential; had 13 plays of 50-plus yards in career
Cons
– lacks explosion
– not evasive behind LOS
– production declined from junior senior season
– 35th percentile SPARQ athlete
6. Cam Akers, Florida State
Height: 5’10 3/8″
Weight: 217
Hand: 9″
Arm: 30 5/8″
40-time: 4.47
54th percentile SPARQ athlete
31% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6..1 *****
NFL Comparison: Jay Ajayi, Joseph Addai
Pros
– overcame horrible blocking and a bad offensive cast to be very productive
– can clearly create on his own
– good functional agility
– instinctive navigation through line of scrimmage
– shed-ability through hips on inside runs
- young (will not turn 21 until late June 2020)
– good straight-line speed
– ex-QB, smart player you want to get the ball to- excellent size and frame
– solid in pass pro, seems to understand protections
Cons
– drops too many passes
– questionable open-field vision
– runs to contact at second-level
– average overall athleticism
– bounces out to the edges too often
– 6 fumbles over final two seasons
5. Antonio Gibson, Memphis
Height: 6’0 3/8”
Weight: 228 lbs
Hands: 8 5/8”
Arm: 31 1/8”
40 yard dash: 4.39
84th percentile SPARQ athlete (among WIDE RECEIVERS!)
14% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.2 **
NFL Comparison: Tony Pollard, Joe Mixon
Pros
– capable pass catcher
– runs through contact
– rare size/speed combo
– extremely agile
– good vision
– impressive body control
– unbelievable short-area vision and burst
Cons
– pass protection
– small hands/body catcher
– raw prospect
– comes in without concrete position on offense
– startlingly little production in college
4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Height: 5’ 7 1/4”
Weight: 207 lbs
Hands: 9 5/8”
Arm: 29”
40 yard dash: 4.6
69th percentile SPARQ athlete
24% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.7 ***
NFL Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice
Pros
- shows patience waiting for blocks
- agility in tight spaces
- protects the ball
- great vision
- big, soft hands
- excellent route runner
- uses low center of gravity to finish runs with power
- Joe Burrow calls him the best football player he's ever been around (at Ohio State or LSU)
Cons
- lacks top end speed
- questionable pass protection
- small catch radius
- small in general
3. D'Andre Swift, Georgia
Height: 5’8 1/4”
Weight: 212 lbs
Hands: 9”
Arm: 29 7/8”
40 yard dash: 4.48
60th percentile SPARQ athlete
23% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6.0 ****
NFL Comparison: Alvin Kamara, Duke Johnson
Pros
– elite footwork
– low center of gravity
– high football IQ
– quick change of direction
– evasive
– accelerates quickly
– reliable pass catcher
Cons
– ball security issues
– punishing running style
– doesn’t always drive his legs through tackles
– never handled a full load
2. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
Height: 5’9 1/2″
Weight: 209 (reportedly played at 216 during 2019 season)
Hand: 9 1/2″
Arm: 29 3/4″
No combine SPARQ data
28% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 6.0 ****
NFL Comparison: Larry Johnson, Devonta Freeman
Pros
– thick, compact body with true breakaway ability
– verified elite athlete despite no combine/pro day metrics (The Opening 2016, 700-pound squat, etc.)
– elite vision and instincts at all levels of the field
– natural hands-catcher
– determined runner who always falls forward
– elusive via explosive athleticism and great first-gear acceleration
– uber-productive at high-profile Ohio State
– broke out with 1400 rushing yards as a true freshman among good RB room
– durable, did not miss games despite heavy volume
Cons
– can get caught from behind on long runs
– had a down year in 2018
– don’t have any combine or pro day measurables
– on the slightly light side for a prototypical workhorse archetype
– despite great hands, was not used as often as other in receiving game
1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Height: 5’ 10 1/4”
Weight: 226 lbs
Hands: 9 1/2”
Arm: 31 1/8”
40 yard dash: 4.39
90th percentile SPARQ athlete
37% college production score
Rivals Rank (high school): 5.8 ****
NFL Comparison: Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, Cadillac Williams
Pros
– the complete package
– accelerates to top speed quickly
– powerful downhill runner
– great vision
– historically prolific college career
– hard to bring down
– elite instincts
– 90th percentile SPARQ athlete
Cons
– ball security (18 fumbles)
– can work on pass protection
– mileage on tires (was run into the ground in college)
Just Missed: AJ Dillon, Boston College; Anthony McFarland, Maryland; Darrynton Evans, App State; James Robinson, Illinois State; JaMycal Hasty, Baylor; Lamical Perine, Florida.
